Ulukhaktok (Holman Island) is a small settlement located on Victoria Island in the Inuvialuit region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Renamed from Holman to Ulukhaktok in 2006, the name was changed back to the original Inuit name which means ‘area from which the materials for making ulu knives comes’. The community overlooks the Amundsen Gulf and is renowned for its … Read More
Janet Kigusiuq: Deconstructed
A distinguished artist and notable colourist, the late Janet Kigusiuq remains as one of the greatly understated artists in the contemporary Inuit art canon. This exhibition of original works traces the development of Kigusiuq’s style from early linear drawings to a gradually increased use of colour, resulting in an exquisite series of sublime abstractions. Over a career span of 30 … Read More
URSUS MARITIMUS: Polar Bears in Inuit Art
By Edd J. Guarino In Inuktitut, the language of the Inuit, the word for polar bear is nanook, or nanuq. Its Latin name is ursus maritimus. These huge animals are a fact of life in the Arctic. Their huge size and power make them very impressive creatures. The Inuit have been hunting polar bears for millennia, along with other Arctic animals. For generations, Inuit culture … Read More
Themes in Inuit Art: Drum Dancing
If you follow Inuit art you are most certainly familiar with the image of the drum dancer, depicted in sculpture, prints, and drawings since the 1960s. Artists like Aqjangajuk Shaa, Abraham Anghik Ruben and Luke Anguhadluq are renowned for their renditions of the subject, often a dynamic figure bending their entire body to mimic the powerful beat of the drum. Long … Read More
Sedna: The Sea Goddess
The traditional Inuit world is a place of enchantment, filled with strange spirits and supernatural beings. Governed by the unpredictable forces of nature, the Inuit used this mythology to explain, and perhaps control, these natural forces. In traditional times the spirit world was central to their culture; today, it has provided inspiration for some of the most lyrical and compelling … Read More
Six Decades of Drawing
For more than three decades, Feheley Fine Arts has presented rare, early drawings by Inuit artists, including many early Kinngait works dating from 1959-1969, drawings that continue to be sought after by collectors. The West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative still owns the lion’s share of these early drawings – some 90,000 are now housed at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and … Read More
The Ulu
The ulu, known in Inuktitut as ᐅᓗ (ulu), translates to “woman’s knife.” This crescent-shaped blade is traditionally used by Inuit women and is passed down through several generations. In Inuit culture, it is considered an honour to receive an ulu from an older female relative. [2] The ulu serves various purposes, including cleaning skins, filleting fish, cutting meat for communal … Read More
The Kayak
In the freezing temperatures of the Northern Arctic, Inuit hunters invented the nimble qajaq, or kayak, to enhance their hunting skills in sealing, whaling and coastline expeditions on the icy waters. Known as the ‘man’s boat’ or the ‘hunter’s boat’ in various Inuktitut dialects, the kayak was hand-crafted from locally available materials. While materials vary depending on their region, in … Read More
Inuit Art Educational Tools
Feheley Fine Arts is delighted to present a handy guide of resources for Inuit art, aiding in identification and self-education. Navigating the world of Inuit art can be daunting, but with these curated tools, you’ll find a solid starting point. Artist Identification Katilvik is a website which allows for artist identification through either syllabic symbols (artist’s name in Inuktitut) or … Read More
“Discovering Oscar Cahén: The Warrior” A documentary film by Howard Brull
Toronto Premiere Screening Discovering Oscar Cahén: The Warrior A documentary film by Howard Brull Tuesday, November 21, 2023 Paradise Theatre 1006 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1M2 Doors: 6:00 p.m. Screening: 7:00 p.m. Q & A: 8:00 p.m. To reserve tickets, click here. TrépanierBaer and Feheley Fine Arts, in collaboration with the Cahén archives, is pleased to announce the Canadian premiere of … Read More
“Kenojuak Ashevak: To Make Something Beautiful” Collector’s talk
Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak, over her lifetime, became a national and international art star; Companion of the Order of Canada, and the holder of two honorary degrees, as well as the subject of several books and films. She was born in a camp near Kinngait in 1927. The exhibition, Kenojuak Ashevak: To Make Something Beautiful features incredibly rare and coveted … Read More
Kenojuak Ashevak: To Make Something Beautiful
(Digitized catalogue below) “For my subject matter I don’t start off and pick a subject as such; that’s not my way of addressing a drawing. My way of doing it is to start without a preconceived plan of exactly what I am going to execute in full, and so I come up with a small part of it which is … Read More